Shoe attachment.



J. E. WATKINS.

SHOE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR 1909.

966,066, Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

[NVENTOR ms muzms PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. c.

career curios.

JOHN E. WATKINS, OF SMITHFIELD, KENTUCKY.

snon ATTACHMENT.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WVA'rKINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Smithfield, in the county of Henry and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe attachments and my object is to provide means for engaging the lace of the shoe, whereby the lower portion of the shoe upper may be quickly loosened or drawn together.

A further object is to provide means for attaching the lace engaging devices to the shoe.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shoe, showing my improved attachment applied to use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the shoe, showing a lace-engaging device attached thereto, and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of attaching the lace engaging device shown in Fig. 2, the shoe portion being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a shoe and 2 indicates the top thereof, the opening in said top being adapted to be secured together by means of a lace 3, one end of which is attached to one section of the top 2 adjacent its intersection with the shoe proper, by securing the end of the lace through an eye 4.

Instead of providing a plurality of eyes as is the present custom, I provide a plurality of lace-engaging studs 5, which are secured to the two sections of the top in any preferred manner, preferably the means shown in Fig. 3 and in arranging the studs on the two sections to be drawn together, said studs are preferably in staggered relation with each other, the studs on one section being a phase difference of substantially Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6, 1909.

Patented A11 2, 1910.

Serial No. 488,200.

one-half the distance between the studs on the opposite section. The studs may be extended substantially to the top of the shoe, but it is preferable to provide the usual form of hooks 7 at the upper portion of the two sections of the top with which the lace is adapted to engage in the usual manner.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a means for attaching the studs to the sections of the shoe top, which consists in extending the arms 9 and 10 of the studs through the shoe top and then clenching the end so extended, the arm 9 being preferably shorter than the arm 10, and when applied to use, the clenched end thereof rests immediately below the outer arm 10, it being understood of course that the ends of the arms 9 and 10 are to be pointed, whereby they will readily pass through the top.

I11 applying my improved lacing attachment to use, the lace is successively introduced through the studs from the lower to the uppermost stud and as one end of the lace is anchored to the shoe top, a pull on the lace will draw the sections of the top together, so that the closed ends of the studs will be substantially in alinement with each other, when the remaining portion of the lace is to be interwound with the hooks 7 on the sections of the top and the free end of the lace anchored or secured in any suitable manner. In this manner the shoe can be very quickly laced and ready for wear and can be equally expeditiously unlaced to remove the shoe, the only requirement being to release the upper end from the hooks, when an outward pull on the sections of the top will separate said sections suiiiciently.

to permit the shoe to be readily removed.

The studs as shown, being preferably constructed of metal, are extremely strong and durable and can be attached without difficulty to any preferred make of laced shoe.

WVhat I claim is:

In an attachment for shoes, a stud of staple-like formation, the loop portion thereof substantially rectangular in shape and ex tending beyond the edge of the leather, the arms of said stud being parallel and one longer than the other, with said leather inserted therebetween, said arms being bent toward one another adjacent their ends and at right angles to the trend thereof, said bent portions inserted through the leather, In testimony whereof I have signed my and the terminals thereof bent at right anname to th s specification in the presence of gles, one of said terminals clenched between two subscribing Witnesses.

the upper side of the leather and the oppo- JOHN E. WATKINS. site arm, and the other of said terminals Vv'itnessesz engaging the under side of the leather, J. PAUL SWAIN,

whereby the stud is securely held. B. SPURGEON. 

